History, Importance, Timings, Festivals, Architecture, Activities, Interesting Facts and Travel Guide of Jagannath Temple, Ranchi, Jharkhand , India
The Jagannath Temple of Ranchi is devoted to Lord Jagannath. The temple was built in the 17th century. Thakur Ani Nath Shahdeo, the king of Jagannathpur (Barkagarh) built this temple in 1691. The temple is located about 10 km away from the city, on a hilltop. The temple architecture was inspired by the same Jagannath Temple of Puri. The only difference is that this temple is smaller in size. A large number of devotees from Ranchi and other places come to visit the temple. Located on the hilltop, the visitors either take the help of the vehicles or prefer to climb the steps to reach there. From the peak of the hill, the temple presents a mesmerizing sight of the city.
History of Jagannath Temple, Ranchi
The first temple was built in the shape of a citadel. Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb violated and looted the temple in 1691. After that, Thakur Ani Nath Shahdeo completed the shrine in 1691. Since then, the temple has become a popular tourist destination in Jharkhand.
History says that the tribals of that region did not have any place to worship. The temple was built with the thought that providing them a place for worship could stop them from changing themselves into other religious convictions.
Jagannath is believed to be a manifestation of the Hindu deity Shree Krishna. The idol has an exclusive structure with gigantic eyes and the nonappearance of proper hands. There is no important legend or incident related to Lord Jagannath. He always exists with his two siblings – Balabhadra and Subhadra.
There are many secrets present at the summit of the shrine in the figure of the Sudarshana Chakra. People still do not understand how the heavy metal weighing about a tone could be placed there without any equipment and with the strength of one human of that period.
Architecture of Jagannath Temple, Ranchi
The temple was inspired by the Kalinga technique of architecture.
The temple is elegant with complicated sculptures.
The temple is very vibrant with an exceptional mixture of colors. The internal part of the shrine is in the form of a citadel.
The temple has a Nata Mandir and a Jagamohana. A giant querencia is also attached to the shrine.
The temple compound diverges into three temples dedicated to Jagannath, Subhadra, and Balabhadra.
Interesting facts about Jagannath Temple, Ranchi
The most interesting fact about the temple is that the statue of Jagannath is made of wood, completely different from the other temples, which are made of stone or clay. Apart from Jagannath, all the other idols are also made of wood. They all are very plain in look in contrast to other idols.
Festivals celebrated at Jagannath Temple, Ranchi
The most famous festival celebrated in the temple is the Rath Yatra, in July. On this occasion, the three idols are taken out of the shrine and put in a huge chariot, known as Rath. The pilgrims push and pull the rope of the Rath, as it is believed as a blessing of Jagannath.
The Rath yatra is succeeded by Snan Yatra, another famous festival of the temple. People believe that the gods fall sick after the snan yatra, and the Raj Vaidya takes care of them for 15 days. People celebrate the period as Ghurti Mela.
Krishna Janmashtami is another festival celebrated here. On this day, the pilgrims don’t eat anything for the whole day until the fulfillment of the puja. Krishna Janmashtami is performed with great enthusiasm as Krishna is the manifestation of Lord Jagannath.
Special rituals followed at Jagannath Temple, Ranchi
The pattern of worship is different here. The priests are called Panda. The pilgrims take a bath before worshipping the god.
The worship starts with food and flowers offered to Jagannath. In the afternoon, the priest offers lunch to the devotees, which is known as Bhog.
Jagannath Temple, Ranchi Daily darshan timings
The temple is open every day. The rituals continue from 5 am to 12 pm and 3 pm to 6 pm. The shrine remains closed for visitors between 12 pm to 3 pm.Contact details of Jagannath Temple, Ranchi
People can call this number - +91 95700 78787 to have more information.
The temple is a very popular pilgrimage for the people of Jharkhand as well as the neighboring states. It remains crowded at the time of Rath Yatra. The temple gets a completely different look at that time which attracts a huge amount of tourists there.
How to Reach Jagannath Temple, Ranchi, Capital of Jharkhand, India
Ranchi airport is the closest option as it is almost v5 km away from the temple. People can take flights to Ranchi from all the major cities of India. Hatia railway station is the nearby option if someone is traveling by train. There are few taxies stands available in the city to reach the temple, such as – Deputy Para, Ahirtoli, etc.
Ranchi being Capital of Jharkhand along with important district and city of state, it is very well connected with all major cities of India via road, rail and air network. Thousands of visitors across the India visits here throughout the year which makes Ranchi more convenient in terms of travel, accommodation and other services. Ranchi has major airport which is very well connect with all major cities of India. Ranchi has major railway station which is connected to main cities of India. Also Ranchi is well connect with other cities via state and national highway. Ranchi is located at 190 km from Giridih, 125 km from Jamshedpur, 252 km from Deoghar, 234 km from Gaya, 33 km from Khunti, 282 km from Basukinath, 79 km from Rajrappa.
